Stevens Point considers euthanizing nuisance geese in 2019

STEVENS POINT - The city upped the ante this year in its feud with geese by trying to use pyrotechnics and a goose-alarm recording to scare them away, but could take it one step further next year.

The Stevens Point Board of Park Commissioners will allow its deer management committee to explore how the city might cull — euthanize — geese in the city as a way to curb the amount of the birds and their feces in parks.

The idea comes as the city continues to wrangle with how to limit geese invasions of city parks, particularly in Pfiffner Pioneer Park.

The city tried using canine silhouettes to scare off the geese in the past, which park commission member John Okonek said "had limited success" and prompted Stevens Point to try the noise-making equipment this year. The April snowstorm and other factors limited the effectiveness of that initial run.

"I think this is a real problem. The No. 1 complaint I hear (from people is) they go down to Jazz Fest or go see the city band for entertainment — what a mess down there. I bike through there quite often, you're zigzagging through that stuff. Something needs to be done," Michael Glodosky, a member of the city's park commission, said.

Despite some limitations with noise-making equipment, it remains in the city's toolbox, said Scott Hyngstrom, a University of Wisconsin Extension wildlife specialist and wildlife management professor at UW-Stevens Point.

"We now have experience with some of the limitations of this device," he said. "I suspect it's a useful tool based on the research."

Tom Schrader, parks director, said the city has to at least ask whether it should bring in experts to kill some of the geese but noted that Stevens Point officials haven't yet decided on on any culling measures. He said he remains hopeful the noise-making equipment can still work.

"The scaring technique works. What happened this year is probably what happened four years ago. We had that drought. When we irrigate in front of the bandshell that was the only green grass. So they came in heavy," Schrader said at the commission meeting.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture would conduct and monitor any goose culling, but first would schedule a public hearing to gauge support or opposition toward killing off a select number of birds. Geese killed through culling would either be sent to a meat processing plant or turned into animal feed, depending on what the city wishes to do.

Schrader said the city might consider culling between 60 and 70 geese a year and that the USDA recommended euthanizing for two years in a row.

If pursued, the first culling might take place next summer during moulting season when they're grounded. Other municipalities that have geese culling initiatives include Wisconsin Rapids, Madison and Antigo.

The Stevens Point deer management committee will discuss the issue during its next meeting in October.